Raccoons

[Birdsong 82]

Out of curiosity, how many birds total and in what type of secure quarters are they housed? Size, type, construction, etc.

None of my birds have ever roosted anywhere but inside the chicken house. They ALL go in every night.....always. But it is a Woods house, so is comfortable for them and appropriately sized for the number of birds I have. Home sweet home and they like it in there.

My daughter's first flock refused to use the house they were given. It was a hand me down freebie coop built by some well meaning folks who had no clue what a chicken coop was supposed to be. Too small, and a poorly constructed sweat box death trap. Bottom line is when allowed to do so, the birds refused to use it....voting with their feet so to speak.....and took to roosting on top of the playground equipment, sheds, etc,.......basically anywhere but inside that coop. They were also allowed for free range. As a result.......they all were taken by predators. I think she might have gotten 1 or 2 eggs per bird before they were gone.

I would expect that birds that free range during the day and roosting in trees at night in a predator laden area are not long for this world.......it would be a miracle if it were anything else. No pellet gun, shotgun, rifle or any amount of trapping is going to change that. The predators are going to win that game 99.9% of the time.

I had a problem getting8 of my 16 at the time to sleep in the coop. 10×12 was not to small. 2 12' long roosting poles. Finally after not letting them out of the run for a few months they were forced to sleep there and got used to it
Some are stubborn

 

[itsasmallfarm]

note sure where the OP is located but i guess it depends where you live and what you can use.

now i would only recommend a pellet gun if it was one of those super fancy/powerful compressed air models. (there like 2000 dollars here in Canada) i have seen trappers use .22 and even .177 pellet guns to dispatch coons but again there high power (over at least 500 FPS) and the barrel is like 2 feet from the critter.

now for the state guys keep in mind not everyone is able to own or just buy a gun. here in Canada its not a right to own a gun. we have to go through a safety training course then get a back ground check/license and wait at-least 28 days before a permit to own a long gun is issued. (and if you wanted to own a handgun or AR class weapon well your waiting even longer then)
also i know most provinces require a hunter safety course before you can dispatch any animal.
so if you needed a gun your waiting quite a bit of time before your allowed to own and dispatch a critter here.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

but going back on topic i use .22 shorts with my savage rascal rifle for dispatching my coons but i want to save the fur to sell though.

 

[ValerieJ]

note sure where the OP is located but i guess it depends where you live and what you can use.

now i would only recommend a pellet gun if it was one of those super fancy/powerful compressed air models. (there like 2000 dollars here in Canada) i have seen trappers use .22 and even .177 pellet guns to dispatch coons but again there high power (over at least 500 FPS) and the barrel is like 2 feet from the critter.

now for the state guys keep in mind not everyone is able to own or just buy a gun. here in Canada its not a right to own a gun. we have to go through a safety training course then get a back ground check/license and wait at-least 28 days before a permit to own a long gun is issued. (and if you wanted to own a handgun or AR class weapon well your waiting even longer then)
also i know most provinces require a hunter safety course before you can dispatch any animal.
so if you needed a gun your waiting quite a bit of time before your allowed to own and dispatch a critter here.

Sounds like you have to make sure you’re prepared ahead of time. That’s what I did. I live around bears and cougars now so I mad it a point to get some self defense.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the advice already given. I have not had to dispatch a coon yet but have dispatched other predators. I have several game cameras up on my property and surprisingly most nights see a predator on at least one of the cameras. Here it's mostly coyotes. Last nights visitor.

 

[woodmort]

If you look carefully you can see a mink(black) trying to figure how it can get into the coop door--this was after I has successfully closed all the possible entrances. BTW, year of photo should be 2019

 

[NHMountainMan]

as said before - a pellet gun isn't really the best option to quickly and humanely dispatch a raccoon. The shotgun or a.22 is a better option. If your not familiar with the options, go to a shooting range that rents and sells guns, and decide what works best for you. My wife and daughters just cannot handle a shotgun - even a 20 gauge. They find them heavy and awkward. With any gun you chose - make sure you understand gun safety, and that you become proficient enough that you hit what your aiming at - both for safety of whats behind your target, and for a humane kill.
Live trapping is an option, and quickly dispatch with a .22. Those that recommend quick kill traps aren't wrong - they work. But in many states you need to get a trapping license even if used to protect livestock.

 

[David61]

I kill coons with my air rifle. It's a collector made in 1968 by Sheridan. It's a rocker safety .5mm blue streak or .20 caliber. It puts a hole in the skull and drops them dead. Now you have to pump it 8 times and it's a single shot so if you're not a marksman like me a .410 shotgun or .22 short can be used by anyone with BB gun skills. There are some very good coon hand traps that cats and dogs do not get caught in as they don't have hands.
Put the trap in boiling water for five minutes and then cover the human scent with a little chicken poop and bait it up.
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1...MInanv65PD5QIVCbSzCh2gwAXqEAQYBCABEgKN_PD_BwE

 

[deldeer]

Pellet guns on raccoons are useless.

 

[deek248]

TO ALL THAT REPLIED TO THIS THREAD WITH THE COMMENT THAT PELLET GUNS ARE USELESS ON COONS UNLESS 2 FEET AWAY....YALL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PERIOD END OF STORY. BEEN KILLING COONS WITH MINE CONSISTENTLY FOR THE LAST 20is YEARS OUT TO ABOUT 25 YARDS. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE COMMENTING ON THINGS YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT OR LEARN HOW TO SHOOT AKA SHOT PLACEMENT AND BEING ABLE TO HIT YOUR TARGET IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Tractor Supply pellet gun that will take out a coon to 25 yards all day/night long
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/crosman-shockwave-nitro-piston-air-rifle